An aloe vera plant has thorn-edged leaves growing in a clump from the base, resembling a cactus, although it belongs to the lily family. The succulent, stiff leaf-blades grow from 11 inches (30 cm) to 2 feet (60 cm), and are pale green, sometimes lightly mottled. In spring, leafless, erect flower stalks thrust upward from the plant’s centre, bearing at the tip a collection of tubular-shaped red or yellow flowers followed by seed capsules.
History and mythology
Many species of aloe are said to be native to south and east Africa, and have become naturalized over many centuries in other parts of the world where climates are temperate, including Spain, India, Asia, and the Caribbean islands. The type, aloe vera, is the most freely available and widely used variety today, and is also but known in folk medicine by such descriptive names as “first aid plant” and “medicinal plant,” owing to the miraculous healing qualities of the thick, clear liquid stored in its leaves. Aloe vera, and others of the same medicinal family, have been recorded in different countries for thousands of years in historical documents describing their therapeutic and cosmetic qualities. The ancient Egyptians,
Greeks and Romans, Arabians,
Indians, and Chinese all knew of the qualities of this herb, and Cleopatra is said to have applied the gel to her body as one of her beauty requisites. The famous Egyptian papyrus “Ebus,” dating from 1500 B.C., chronicles the wide medicinal use of aloe, and there are other reports by Greek writers of its countless applications, taken to alleviate both internal and external problems and ailments.
Cultivation
We have propagated aloe vera from large parent plants simply by breaking them up into pieces, allowing approximately two leaves with their roots, and putting into individual containers of potting mixture, and then watering but only sparingly. The new plants establish very quickly and may be put into the ground shortly. If you have seed, sow in spring as described at the beginning of this book. By the way, aloe vera makes an excellent indoor plant. Whether inside or outside, it cannot tolerate overwatering, becoming transparent and pinkish. However, recovery is rapid when it is allowed to return to drier conditions: some watering is necessary.
Harvesting and processing
Aloe vera is not harvested like the other herbs in this book. Portions of leaf-blades can be cut, the thick juice squeezed out and applied immediately to an affected area. It is unsafe to bottle and store the raw substance for more than a day or so, even in the refrigerator. However, a weak solution for internal needs can be kept in the refrigerator for several days by placing some green peelings from a leaf in a jar of water, the liquid to be taken once or twice a week, then start again. When fresh from the plant, the juice is quite safe to use unless you have an allergy to it, which has been known to happen. The liquid must be preserved and stabilized for keeping purposes, and an American chemical engineer, very impressed with fresh juice applied to his severe sunburn by friends, worked on this problem. He was successful, and now aloe vera liquid can be preserved for different purposes in many parts of the world.
Various uses
Culinary
The flavor of the sap running between the skin and pulp is bitter, and can be isolated from the gel. The latter is not palatable and appears to have no culinary value.
Medicinal
As described in the harvesting section, fresh or preserved aloe vera juice has great healing qualities both externally and internally. We have used gel squeezed from a freshly picked leaf on a skin rash which disappeared within a few days. One day someone showed us the backs of her hands where skin cancers had been removed; she experimented by squeezing fresh aloe vera onto one marked hand to see what would happen. The skin on that hand was smooth and healthy with no discoloration or blemishes when we saw it; the other hand was covered with little blotches. Apart from healing skin scars, burns, and blemishes, relieving sunburn and other external afflictions, aloe vera is taken internally when prescribed, often in tablet form for digestive complaints. Some people take the fresh gel every day as a tonic, to aid kidney infections, as a mild laxative, and to assist arthritis and ulcers. If preparing the peel in water, follow the method described at the beginning of the harvesting section of this book.
Cosmetic
Aloe vera juice or gel is added to many cosmetic lines for its healing, smoothing, anti-wrinkling effect on the skin. It is also beneficial for the hair and scalp. A very full and informative booklet on the wonders of aloe vera is the Aloe Vera Hand Book by Max B. Scousen. Our copy is from the Aloe Vera Research Institute, 5103 Sequoia, Cypress, CA. 90630. USA.
Companion planting
We have not experienced, or read of, any companion planting effects.
